September 12, 2017

Day 12: Adults
A courage to jump!

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ‘For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 16:24-25 NIV).

Today we are at the beach celebrating my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. For the last few years she has been very clear about how she wanted to celebrate.

Skydiving!

What?! We surely thought this would pass. But the desire has only gotten stronger. People have asked her…why would you want to jump out of a perfectly good plane?

So today at 4 p.m. my husband, children and my 80- ear-old mother-in-law will fly to 15,000 feet harnessed to a knowledgeable, experienced guide and jump out of a perfectly safe airplane. However, I will remain safely on the ground taking pictures, documenting the experience.

Safety. That familiar comfort zone in which I greatly desire to remain. If I am honest, the anticipation and thought of that first leap out of the plane SCARES ME TO DEATH. The what ifs, the unknown, and the inexperience seem too much for me.

BUT there’s also a sadness. I know I am missing out. The immense beauty that can’t be experienced any other way. The thrill of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity missed. The freedom that will be felt from floating by parachute, tethered to someone else guiding me safely to the ground. And I am torn.

Safety and comfort. Or jumping?

Isn’t that like our faith? Our daily surrendering to a God that desperately wants us to experience a full and ABUNDANT LIFE? Those unknowns and that initial leap sometimes seem terrifying to us. Where will He lead? What will He ask of me? Where will I end up? What if….?

But He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He makes His Holy Spirit available to all that would tether themselves to Him trusting Him with their life! But it is up to us….will we jump? Will we trust? Or will we walk away sad, unable to surrender?

Prayer:
“Lord, We don’t want to be spectators. Give us the courage to JUMP! Help us forsake our comfort and help us give ourselves wholly to You. For we can only imagine the unbelievable beauty that will come as a result! Beauty that simply can’t be experienced from the comfort and safety of the ground!” Amen.